Savatage is a progressive heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979. The band is known for recording many concept albums. Although they were known mainly as a progressive metal band, their origins could be attributed to classic heavy metal and power metal, as expressed by their debut album, Sirens. The band has been inactive since the release of its last album in 2001, and have not performed live together since 2002, instead concentrating on their more commercially successful side-project, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Poets and Madmen is a heavy metal album by the band Savatage. ... Clearwater is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida, USA, nearly due west of Tampa. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music which blends the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music typically with the aim of evoking an epic feel, combining characteristics of traditional metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. ... Symphonic metal is a term used to describe metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. ... SPV GmbH is an independant German record label founded in 1984 as a german distributor of Roadrunner Records. ... Doctor Butcher is a side project involving Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery of Savatage. ... Trans-Siberian Orchestra (often abbreviated as TSO) is a Rock and Heavy Metal orchestra founded by Paul ONeill, Robert Kinkel, and Jon Oliva in 1996. ... For a period of eight years from 1992 until August 2000, Zachary Stevens was the lead singer of Savatage. ... Category: ... Most famous for his time as frontman and vocalist to the band Savatage, Jon Oliva has also composed music for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra headed up the 1993 project Dr. Butcher and his own 2005 album Jon Olivas Pain. ... Chris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. ... Al Pitrelli (born September 29, 1962 in New York, NY) is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage, Blue Öyster Cult and O2L. // Al Pitrelli attended Berklee School of Music in Boston in the early 80s where he studied with other notable... Johnny Lee Middleton III (born May 7, 1963 in St. ... Jeff Plate (born March 26, 1962, in Montour Falls, NY)[3] is a professional drummer and percussionist. ... Christopher Criss Michael Oliva (April 3, 1963 - October 17, 1993) was born in Pomption Plains, NJ. He was the lead guitarist for the band Savatage. ... Zachary Zak Stevens (born 1966), is best known as the former lead vocalist of the band Savatage. ... Alex Skolnick (born September 29, 1968, grew up in Berkeley, California) is an American jazz and rock guitarist. ... Jack Frost is the current guitarist/forunder of the Heavy Metal bandSeven Witches and is also in the band Bronx Casket Company. ... Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music which blends the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Most famous for his time as frontman and vocalist to the band Savatage, Jon Oliva has also composed music for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra headed up the 1993 project Dr. Butcher and his own 2005 album Jon Olivas Pain. ... Christopher Criss Michael Oliva (April 3, 1963 - October 17, 1993) was born in Pomption Plains, NJ. He was the lead guitarist for the band Savatage. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music typically with the aim of evoking an epic feel, combining characteristics of traditional metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. ... Sirens is Savatages debut album. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Trans-Siberian Orchestra (often abbreviated as TSO) is a Rock and Heavy Metal orchestra founded by Paul ONeill, Robert Kinkel, and Jon Oliva in 1996. ...

Biography

The Early Days

Criss Oliva and his brother Jon formed their first band together, Avatar, in 1978, from the ashes of their former bands Tower and Alien respectively. In 1980, the duo met up with Steve Wacholz and jammed in a shack behind the Oliva home that was dubbed "The Pit" by the band. Wacholz originally tried out to be part of Jon's band, Alien, but when the first Savatage line-up was taking shape, Jon (who was originally on drum duties) was relieved of them by Wacholz ^[1]. They also gave Steve a nickname that would follow him through out his career: "Doctor Hardware Killdrums", often shortened to just "Doc", which referred to Steve's hard playing style. Christopher Criss Michael Oliva (April 3, 1963 - October 17, 1993) was born in Pomption Plains, NJ. He was the lead guitarist for the band Savatage. ... Most famous for his time as frontman and vocalist to the band Savatage, Jon Oliva has also composed music for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra headed up the 1993 project Dr. Butcher and his own 2005 album Jon Olivas Pain. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Criss, Jon and Steve played Tampa (where they had moved with their family in the late-70s) and Clearwater area clubs for many years. In 1981, Keith Collins joined them to relieve Jon of bass guitar duties. In late 2006, footage was released onto the internet of an early performance by Avatar at a gig in a Clearwater, FL parking lot and was prominent in featuring an early version of the song "Holocaust" ^[2], which would later be released on Savatage's first album and a cover of Van Halen's "Eruption" and VH's version of "You Really Got Me" ^[3]. In 1982, Avatar took part in some heavy metal compilations, most notably "The YNF Pirate Tape", a promotion by Tampa rock radio station WYNF for local Florida bands. In 1983, "Avatar" was forced to change its name due to copyright issues. Combining the words "Savage" and "Avatar", the band arrived with Savatage. Nickname: Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. ... Clearwater is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida, USA, nearly due west of Tampa. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Keith Collins is an English stand-up comedian and the stage name of college professor and author Dr. Keith Pepperell . ... Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Van Halen is an American rock band formed in the 1970s. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Heavy metal is a form of rock music characterized by aggressive, driving rhythms and highly amplified distorted guitars, generally with grandiose lyrics and virtuosic instrumentation. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ...

The first works by Savatage were strongly influenced by bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple^{[citation needed]}, with speed metal elements and fast, powerful riffs. Their first two albums, Sirens and The Dungeons Are Calling, were released on Combat Records, an independent label. In 1985, they signed a contract with Atlantic Recording Corporation and released their third album Power of the Night. Power of the Night, which was produced by Max Norman, who would go on to produce Megadeth's 1992 album Countdown to Extinction, showcased the band's unorthodox approach to metal, which included Jon's liberal use of keyboards on songs like "Fountain of Youth" and Broadway-style song structures like the kind employed on "Warriors". It was well-received by critics but fell short of sales expectations. Atlantic budgeted to provide funds to make a video for "Hard for Love", on the condition that it be retitled "Hot for Love" for broadcast purposes. The band refused to change the song and consequently a video was not released. Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in 1970 in Birmingham. ... Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from east London. ... For other uses, see Black Sabbath (disambiguation). ... This article is about the rock band. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Sirens is Savatages debut album. ... The Dungeons are Calling is an album by Savatage, released in 1984 on Metal Blade Records Tracklist The Dungeons Are Calling By the Grace of the Witch Visions Midas Knight City Beneath the Surface The Whip ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is a record label founded in 1947 by the Ertegun brothers, Herb Abramson and others. ... Power of the Night is the third album of Savatage, released in 1985. ... Max Norman was a record producer and recording engineer in the 1980s and 1990s. ... Megadeth is an American heavy metal band led by founder, frontman, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... Countdown to Extinction is the fifth studio album by Megadeth, released in 1992 (see 1992 in music). ... Broadway theatre[1] is the most prestigious form of professional theatre in the U.S., as well as the most well known to the general public and most lucrative for the performers, technicians and others involved in putting on the shows. ...

In 1986, after the release of their fourth album, Fight for the Rock, a failed attempt at a commercial approach imposed by the record company which the band themselves called Fight for the Nightmare ^[4], Savatage toured with Metallica, KISS and Motörhead. Many Savatage fans resent the making of the album and view it largely as a disappointment. The band themselves were not happy with the record, with pressure from the label to include two cover versions. Jon Oliva had been retained to write material for other artists on the Atlantic label, such as John Waite and other pop-rockers. Later, the label turned around and demanded Savatage record the material themselves. In a show of youthful naivete, the band agreed. Not only did it destroy them in the press, it nearly destroyed the band and sent Jon into his early alcohol and drug problems. Oliva recently admitted however the album did have strong points, including the band's cover of Badfinger's "Day After Day". During this time, original bassist Keith Collins left the band, and Johnny Lee Middleton joined the band. Since 1987, Johnny has been the only consistent member of Savatage, performing on every album. Fight for the Rock is the fourth album by Savatage. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. ... Motörhead are a Grammy Award-winning British heavy metal band formed in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy (real name Ian Kilmister), who has remained the sole constant member. ... Missing You record cover John Charles Waite, born on July 4, 1955, in Lancaster, Lancashire, England, is a rock singer. ... Badfinger were a rock/pop band formed in Swansea, Wales in 1965, and one of the earliest representatives of the power pop genre. ... Johnny Lee Middleton III (born May 7, 1963 in St. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

"The Golden Era"

In 1987, Savatage released their first commercially successful album, Hall of the Mountain King, which became the base for the band being catapulted into a more mainstream arena. The band recorded their first music video for the album's title song, which received extensive air play on MTV's Headbangers Ball and this was followed up a by video for the song 24 Hours Ago. This album introduced a new musical style, featuring symphonic instrumentals strongly influenced by their new producer, Paul O'Neill — that would shape the band's future recordings. O'Neill contributed most of the lyrics for the rest of their career, and gave them a more conceptual edge starting with their next album, Gutter Ballet. This article is about Savatage album. ... MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network based in New York City. ... Headbangers Ball is a television show about heavy metal music airing on MTV2, MTV in Australia and MTV Adria (the MTV subsidiary covering the former Yugoslavia). ... Paul ONeill is a composer, lyricist, producer; a prolific writer and producer with a tremendously varied career in the music industry. ... Gutter Ballet is the second album produced by the progressive metal band Savatage under the direction of producer Paul ONeill, and the bands sixth album overall. ...

Gutter Ballet, which was released in 1989, could be considered the band's true turning point, as since that point, the band have turned into a more progressive outfit, writing longer songs with more complex melodies and differing vocal styles, rather than a more straight forward Power Metal style that seemed apparent in earlier works. The change to a more progressive, operatic style was also precipitated by Jon, after seeing a performance of Phantom of the Opera in Toronto. The songs "Gutter Ballet" and "When the Crowds Are Gone" are examples of this influence from that album and their next album would follow a more operatic style, saying so in its title. Again, two videos were made from the album, When the Crowds Are Gone and Gutter Ballet, which received airplay on MTV. Chris Caffery, who had been playing with Savatage on their 1987 tour as a second rhythm player offstage and out of audience sight, was introduced as a new band member in 1988. A message to him appears in the liner notes for the album Streets, wishing him "luck in whatever roads in life he goes down." He left after the Gutter Ballet tour (prior to the recording of Streets), but would later return to the band. Gutter Ballet is the second album produced by the progressive metal band Savatage under the direction of producer Paul ONeill, and the bands sixth album overall. ... The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. ... The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the novel by French novelist Gaston Leroux. ... Streets: A Rock Opera is a concept album by Savatage, dealing with the rise and fall of the musician D.T. Jesus. ...

In 1991, the band created their first rock opera, Streets. The record did not do as well as the band would have liked however as it was released around the time that grunge exploded onto the mainstream music arena. But, a video for Jesus Saves was recorded and again got airplay and got a new audience to appreciate the band. However, after a tour in support of the album, Jon Oliva left the band to concentrate on his side-projects Doctor Butcher and his Broadway-bound musical "Romanov" ^[5], as well as continuing co-writing Savatage material with his brother Criss and producer Paul O'Neill. However, as of 2007, "Romanov" remains uncompleted and unreleased. The Whos Tommy, the first album explicitly billed as a rock opera A rock opera or rock musical is a musical production in the form of an opera or a musical in a modern rock and roll style rather than more traditional forms. ... Grunge music (sometimes also referred to as the Seattle Sound) is an independent-rooted music genre that became a commercially successful offshoot of hardcore punk, thrash metal, and alternative rock in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Broadway theatre[1] is the most prestigious form of professional theatre in the U.S., as well as the most well known to the general public and most lucrative for the performers, technicians and others involved in putting on the shows. ...

Jon hand-picked his replacement, former Wicked Witch lead vocalist Zachary Stevens and the band recorded their follow-up to "Streets", Edge of Thorns in 1993. For the first time, Savatage began to enjoy mainstream recognition, including increased radio play and a world tour. However, tragedy struck when Criss Oliva was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver on October 17, 1993^[6]. Jon chose to continue the band, although has since admitted that the band was pretty much over after Criss's death, but only kept going because of his memory and to "keep his music alive" ^[7]. Zachary Zak Stevens (born 1966), is best known as the former lead vocalist of the band Savatage. ... Edge of Thorns is an album by Savatage, released in 1993 on Atlantic Records. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

Life After Criss

Alex Skolnick temporarily joined Savatage in 1994 for the release of their ninth album Handful of Rain, written by Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill. Although the album is technically a Jon Oliva solo album, with Jon handling all instrumental duties except for vocals and lead guitars, the album was released under the Savatage moniker with bass and drum credits given to Middleton and Wacholz, respectively. The song "Chance" was the first Savatage song to contain the usage of counterpoint vocals, a style which they continued to use on following albums. The album's final track, "Alone You Breathe", was a tribute to Criss Oliva. A live CD/VHS entitled Japan Live '94 (in later releases it has been retitled Live in Japan) was released at the conclusion of a very short tour in support of the album with Skolnick's three-piece band Exhibit-A and power metal band Tempo Tantrum. After the tour, Alex Skolnick left the band to pursue other interests. His replacement would once more be former Savatage member, Christopher Caffery, who himself pays tribute to his late bandmate and friend by playing Criss' solos as he would have played them. Atlantic Records, however, wanted another, more well-known guitarist to join the band, and Al Pitrelli was chosen. Pitrelli was known for his previous work with Alice Cooper and Asia, among others. Alex Skolnick (born September 29, 1968, grew up in Berkeley, California) is an American jazz and rock guitarist. ... Handful of Rain is a heavy metal album by Savatage. ... In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm, and interdependent in harmony. ... CD may stand for: Compact Disc Canadian Forces Decoration Cash Dispenser (at least used in Japan) CD LPMud Driver Centrum-Demokraterne (Centre Democrats of Denmark) Certificate of Deposit České Dráhy (Czech Railways) Chad (NATO country code) Chalmers Datorförening (computer club of the Chalmers University of Technology) a 1960s... Bottom view of VHS cassette with magnetic tape exposed Top view of VHS cassette with front casing removed The Video Home System, better known by its abbreviation VHS is a recording and playing standard for analog video cassette recorders (VCRs), developed by Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) and launched... Japan Live 94 (also known as Live in Japan) a live album that was recorded by Savatage. ... This article deals with the band Tempo Tantrum. ... Al Pitrelli (born September 29, 1962 in New York, NY) is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage, Blue Öyster Cult and O2L. // Al Pitrelli attended Berklee School of Music in Boston in the early 80s where he studied with other notable... Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948), is a rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans four decades. ... Asia is an arena rock/progressive rock group. ...

In 1995, Savatage released their second rock opera Dead Winter Dead, an even more ambitious undertaking than its predecessor, Streets. They also achieved cross-over success with "Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24", which received heavy rotation on multiple radio formats during the Christmas season. While they toured Europe and Japan, the group forewent an American tour to work on their new project, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, recorded by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), comprising Savatage and a large orchestra. Jon Oliva has since admitted that he was annoyed to see the success of TSO with what was originally a Savatage song, leading him to believe that the biggest barrier to success was the Savatage name. ^[7] Dead Winter Dead is a concept album by Savatage, released in 1995 dealing with a Serb boy and a Muslim girl who fall in love. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a CD of Christmas carols by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. ... Trans-Siberian Orchestra (often abbreviated as TSO) is a Rock and Heavy Metal orchestra founded by Paul ONeill, Robert Kinkel, and Jon Oliva in 1996. ...

Their eleventh album, The Wake of Magellan, was released in 1998 after a break to deal with the huge success of TSO, and dealt with such concepts as the worth of a life, suicide and drug abuse, drawing on real-life events such as the Maersk Dubai and the murder of Veronica Guerin. Savatage parted ways with long-time label Atlantic after this release and eventually signed on with a much smaller organization, Nuclear Blast (although Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums would in the future remain on the Atlantic/Lava imprint). Jon Oliva said that this was a good move, as Nuclear Blast "loved the band and they know our songs and everything!". The Wake of Magellan is a concept album by Savatage and is based on two real life events. ... Rather than surrender to US soldiers, the Mayor (Bürgermeister) of Leipzig Germany, committed suicide along with his wife and daughter on April 20, 1945. ... The Maersk Dubai incident took place aboad the Taiwanese freighter Maersk Dubai of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group in 1996. ... Veronica Guerin (July 5, 1958 - June 26, 1996) was an Irish journalist who was murdered in 1996 by Irish drug dealers. ...

By this time, Savatage was taking as much fire for their "Broadway-Metal" aspirations as they were praise; while there was no doubt that Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums had found an audience, many older, more long-term Savatage fans complained of a lack of any real difference between the sounds of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Savatage. Many members of the fanbase felt alienated due to a lack of extensive Savatage touring in America (often Savatage played only a handful of shows on the east coast, with European fans also feeling alienated due to their lack of shows in that area) and the turn from a decidedly metal approach to a more symphonic base. Reviews of their material either praised their genius or berated their pretentiousness; there seemed to be no middle ground, and to this day the fan base and critics are still split.

The Mountain King Returns

Savatage continued to focus on their Trans-Siberian Orchestra project for a while, releasing The Christmas Attic, but the release of Poets and Madmen in 2001 was highlighted by Jon Oliva's return as lead vocalist, replacing the departed Zak Stevens, who left the band citing family reasons, and the departure of Al Pitrelli, who accepted an offer to join Megadeth in 2000. Pitrelli did record some solos for some songs prior to his departure. Another very limited US tour followed, supported by Fates Warning in the early shows, and then Nevermore for the remainder. Around this time, Jon chose Zak's replacement in the form of Damond Jinya, who performed Zak's parts on tour, with Jon having an increased vocal role in proceedings. Jack Frost auditioned for the role of rhythm guitar player, and got the gig, and played with the band for a majority of the tour, but was mysteriously asked to leave the band after the tour, although it could be said that Frost's commitments elsewhere drove him from the band. For Summer festival appearances in 2002, the band was joined by Annihilator's Jeff Waters. Poets and Madmen is a heavy metal album by the band Savatage. ... Megadeth is an American heavy metal band led by founder, frontman, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... Fates Warning is a progressive metal band, formed in 1983 by John Arch, Jim Matheos, Victor Arduini, Joe DiBiase, and Steve Zimmerman in Connecticut, USA. The band directly contributed to the establishment of the progressive metal genre. ... Nevermore is an American progressive metal band from Seattle, Washington assembled in 1991 from the ashes of the power metal band Sanctuary. ... Jack Frost is the current guitarist/forunder of the Heavy Metal bandSeven Witches and is also in the band Bronx Casket Company. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Jeff Waters (born February 13, 1966), is the guitarist and mastermind of the thrash metal band Annihilator. ...

Savatage have remained inactive since the tour, with band members concentrating on other projects. This has not pleased everyone, with Chris Caffery in particular citing his anger at Savatage ^[8] not recording a new album in almost 5 years as of 2006. 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

TSO continue with their releases, with two companies now touring the US. Their latest release is The Lost Christmas Eve, and they are working on another TSO release, Night Castle, which is due to be released in 2007, but due to TSO's notorious perfectionism, this could be delayed further.

Jon Oliva formed his own band, Jon Oliva's Pain and released their first album in 2004 entitled 'Tage Mahal. In 2006, the band signed with AFM Records and a second record called Maniacal Renderings was released on September 4th, 2006. Category: ... Tage Mahal is a 2004 release by Jon Olivas Pain. ... AFM Records is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. ...

Lead guitarist Chris Caffery also recorded solo material, with the MusicMan EP in 2004 followed by a full-length album Faces in 2005. Chris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. ...

Former front man Zak Stevens formed a new band, Circle II Circle in 2003 and their first record entitled Watching in Silence was released in 2003, and produced by Jon Oliva and featuring a guest appearance from Caffery. After a dispute with the management during the tour, his entire band left and joined Jon Oliva's band. Zak regrouped with new members and release a second album, The Middle of Nowhere in 2005. A third album entitled Burden Of Truth and based on "The DaVinci Code" was released on "Black Friday", October 13, 2006. For a period of eight years from 1992 until August 2000, Zachary Stevens was the lead singer of Savatage. ... Watching in Silence is a 2003 release by Circle II Circle. ... The Middle of Nowhere is a 2005 release by Circle II Circle. ... The Da Vinci Code book cover The Da Vinci Code is a novel written by American author Dan Brown and published in 2003 by Random House (ISBN 0385504209). ... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Possible Return?

In an interview to Aardschok, a Dutch Magazine, in June 2006, Jon Oliva announced that he wants to record one more Savatage album, with a live CD and DVD to follow it, before ending the band. He did not specify a release date to a new album, however. Chris Caffery then said in an interview in October 2006 that if a new Savatage album was to be recorded, then it's likely that Alex Skolnick would be involved, as well as original drummer Steve "Doc" Wacholz^[9]. In an November 2006 interview to Greek website, MetalTemple.com, Jon Oliva himself shot down all rumours of the return of Savatage, claiming that it never made him any money, but instead it cost him one million US dollars to keep the band going over the years ^[7]. Jon also said that his new band, Jon Oliva's Pain, is basically Savatage reincarnated, so it could co-exist with the more successful Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He did however state that a one-off anniversary tour featuring Skolnick, Wacholz and other past Savatage members is being planned with Paul O'Neill as a final send off to the band. Zachary Stevens has made it clear that he will participate in a 25th anniversary festivities with the band ^[10]. Jon Oliva then said about the band "Well, it's over but it's not over, you know what I mean? It's over right now because no one's doing anything. We haven't disbanded or anything. We have plans to do something in the future." ^[11] Jon also announced that he is doing "some video compilation stuff, and editing old things for a bonus DVD to go with it, that has a ton of live Criss stuff in concert, a lot of backstage frolicking about, and going to castles in Europe".

Personnel

Members

• Damond Jiniya – lead vocals
• Jon Oliva - vocals, guitar, keyboards (drums on "Handful of Rain")
• Chris Caffery - guitar, backing vocals
• Al Pitrelli - guitar
• Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar
• Jeff Plate – drums

Handful of Rain is a heavy metal album by Savatage. ...

Previous members

• Criss Oliva – guitar (1979-1993)
• Steve Wacholz – drums (1980-1993)
• Keith Collins – bass guitar (1981-1985)
• Zachary Stevens – lead vocals (1992-2000)
• Alex Skolnick - guitar (1994)
• Jack Frost – guitar (2001-2002)

Guest musicians

• Robert Kinkel - keyboards (1987)
• John Zahner - keyboards (1991) ["Streets" touring member]
• Wes Garren - rhythm guitar, keyboards (1993) ["Edge of Thorns" touring member]
• Andy James - drums (1993) ["Edge of Thorns" touring member]
• Jeff Waters - guitars (summer 2002) ["Poets and Madmen" touring member, replacement for Jack Frost]

Streets: A Rock Opera is a concept album by Savatage, dealing with the rise and fall of the musician D.T. Jesus. ... Edge of Thorns is an album by Savatage, released in 1993 on Atlantic Records. ... Edge of Thorns is an album by Savatage, released in 1993 on Atlantic Records. ... Poets and Madmen is a heavy metal album by the band Savatage. ...

Discography

Studio Albums

Sirens (1983) Image File history File links SavatageSirens. ... Sirens is Savatages debut album. ... Image File history File links 3_stars. ...	Power of the Night (1985) Image File history File links Power_of_the_Night. ... Power of the Night is the third album of Savatage, released in 1985. ... Image File history File links 2. ...	Fight for the Rock (1986) #158 (US) Weeks on Chart: 7 Image File history File links Fight_for_the_Rock. ... Fight for the Rock is the fourth album by Savatage. ... Image File history File links 1. ...	Hall of the Mountain King (1987) #116 (US) Image File history File links SavatageMountainKing. ... This article is about Savatage album. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ...
Gutter Ballet (1989) #124 (U.S.) Image File history File links The album cover of Savatages Gutter Ballet File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Gutter Ballet is the second album produced by the progressive metal band Savatage under the direction of producer Paul ONeill, and the bands sixth album overall. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ...	Streets: A Rock Opera (1991) Cover of the Savatage album Streets: A Rock Opera. ... Streets: A Rock Opera is a concept album by Savatage, dealing with the rise and fall of the musician D.T. Jesus. ... Image File history File links 4. ...	Edge of Thorns (1993) This work is copyrighted. ... Edge of Thorns is an album by Savatage, released in 1993 on Atlantic Records. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ...	Handful of Rain (1994) Image File history File links HandfullofRain. ... Handful of Rain is a heavy metal album by Savatage. ... Image File history File links 3_stars. ...
Dead Winter Dead (1995) Image File history File links DeadWinterDead. ... Dead Winter Dead is a concept album by Savatage, released in 1995 dealing with a Serb boy and a Muslim girl who fall in love. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ...	The Wake of Magellan (1998) Image File history File links Wake_of_the_magellan. ... The Wake of Magellan is a concept album by Savatage and is based on two real life events. ... Image File history File links 3_stars. ...	Poets and Madmen (2001) Image File history File links Poets_and_Madmen. ... Poets and Madmen is a heavy metal album by the band Savatage. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ...

Extended Plays (EPs)

• The Dungeons Are Calling (1984)
• Chance EP (1995)
• Doesn't Matter Anyway EP (1995)

The Dungeons are Calling is an album by Savatage, released in 1984 on Metal Blade Records Tracklist The Dungeons Are Calling By the Grace of the Witch Visions Midas Knight City Beneath the Surface The Whip ... Chance is an EP released by Savatage in 1995, in support of the song Chance from the Handful of Rain album released in 1994. ... Doesnt Matter Anyway is an EP released by Savatage in 1995, in support of the song Doesnt Matter Anyway from the Dead Winter Dead album, also released in 1995. ...

Live Albums

• Japan Live '94 (1995)
• Final Bell / Ghost in the Ruins (1995)

Japan Live 94 (also known as Live in Japan) a live album that was recorded by Savatage. ... Final Bell/Ghost In The Ruins is a live album by Savatage, in tribute to the memory of the early departed Criss Oliva. ...

Compilation Albums

• From the Gutter to the Stage (1996)
• The Best and the Rest (1997)
• Believe (1998)

From the Gutter to the Stage is a double compilation CD comprised of Savatages songs from 1981 to 1995. ... The Best And The Rest is a Japanese Greatest Hits Album released on November 21, 1997 by JVC Records. ... Believe is a Japanese compilation spotlighting the four Savatage albums that have been released in that Japan on the Zero label. ...

Videos and DVDs

• Japan Live '94 (1995)

Japan Live 94 (also known as Live in Japan) a live album that was recorded by Savatage. ...

Singles

• When the Crowds are Gone (1989)
• Handful of Rain (1994)
• One Child (1996)
• Commissar (2001)

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official website
• Savatage at MusicBrainz
• Savatage at Last.fm ‹The template Last.fm is being considered for deletion.› 
• Savatage at Discogs
• Interview with Alex Skolnick 1/2 hour interview with music on the MaximumThreshold.net show